Valve with foot actuated control



H. ANDERSON VALVE WITH FOOT ACTUATED CONTROL Filed Aug. 20. 1949 vINVENTOR. Hem' anderson BY @iw Aug. 18, 1953 Patented Aug. 1.8, t

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to an air post adapted for employing compressed air, and adapted par-V 'ticularly for use in shops, garages, etc.

An object of the invention is thev provision of a foot actuated valve for a novel air post having a special arrangement of compressed air lines enabling the user thereof to utilize the air lines in different positions and in diierent locations.

Another object is the provision of a foot actuated valve having adjustable control means whereby the height of the foot treadle may be varied together with the mechanicalv advantage of the actuator.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointedv out in the claim and illustratedk in the accom'- panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the air post of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the lower part of the air post; and- Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the air post.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the air post in the present instance includes abase I2 which includes an upper solid portion or block i4 having a peripheral flange I6- at the bottom of the base. The block I4 includes a vertical shoulder I8 over which is inserted an npr-ight tubular shell 2B. The shell 20 includes an upper main portion 22 and a lower collar 24 telescoped over the portion 22 and welded thereto as indicated at 2B. If preferred, the upper portion 22 and lower portion 24 may be integral and the lower portion spread or of the same dimension as the upper portion if desired. The lower portion 24 is tted over the block I4 and mounted thereon as by a press-fit so as to remain in position in normal use of the device, but enabled to be withdrawn by applied force. The upper end of the tubular portion 24 is open and provided with an insert 28 fitted therein and secured normally in place therein by a press-fit. The insert 28 may be removed by applied force if desired. Preferably the insert 23 includes a reduced portion 30 which fits into the interior of the upper end of the tubular portion 20 and an upper enlarged part which abuts against the upper margin of the tubular portion 20. The insert 28 includes a pair of holes 32 for a purpose which will be referred to later.

The block I4 of the base is provided with a bore 34 which will be referred to as a main air line and opens out one side of the block, having an enlargedl threaded portion into which a pipe 36 is threaded. The pipe 36 is adapted for communication with a compressor or tank, or other source of compressed air. The lower tubular portion 24 of the shell is provided with a slot 38 registering with the bore 34 into which the pipe 36 is inserted.

Bores 4!!A and 4I are formed in the block I4, communicating with the bore 34 and leading upwardly therefrom. The base I2 in the present illlustration is shown as solid and provided with bores for air passages; however, if preferred, the base may be hollow, and provided with pipe segments which form air passages. The upper end of the bore 4-is provided with an enlarged threaded portion into which is threaded an upstanding pipe 42. The bore 4t] and pipe 42 together willbe referred to as a branch air line for receiving compressed air ilowing through the pipe 36 and into the bore or main air line 34. The pipe 42 leads upwardly and extends through one of the holes 32 in the insert 28 and terminates a short distance thereabove. Fitted on the upper end of the pipe 4-2 is a coupling 44 which may be any preferred standard type of coupling adaptedv for relative swiveling movement of the par-ts connected thereto. A flexible hose 46 is connected with-the coupling 44 and at the outer or extended end of the hose 46 is an air nozzle 48 which also may be of any preferred type and adapted 'for manipulation bythe hand of the user. The hose 46 is adapted for swiveling movement in the coupling 44 so that the hose can be extended in any direction trom the air post and swung therearound without kinking of the hose.

The upper end of the bore 4I is enlarged and interiorly threaded to receive a nipple 52 to which is secured an air valve 54. The air valve 54 may be of the type having a valve closure element `56 mounted on a stem 58 which extends through the valve housing and provided with a head Et. The upper end of the valve 54 receives a pipe 62 which extends upwardly and through the second one of the openings 32 in the insert 28 and terminates a short distance thereabove. Supported on the pipe 62 is a mounting element 64 having a set screw E@ for securing the element 64 in the desired position on the pipe whereby the height of the foot treadle may be varied together with the mechanical advantage of the actuator. The element t4 is provided with a hole for receiving the pipe 62, into which the screw extends for engaging the pipe; the element is slotted at its other end, as indicated at 61. A lever arm 88 is pivoted in the slot 61, by means of a pin 70 and extends downwardly in the interior of the shell and engages the head 99 of the valve stem. The lower end of the lever 68 extends outwardly through a slot '12 in the shell and is provided with a treadle portion 14. The user of the device can step on the treadle portion 14 for swinging the lever 98 counterclockwise for driving the stem 58 inwardly and opening the air valve 543. A compression spring 'i5 may be provided for biasing the valve stem and closure element 59 to valve closing position.

The pipe 62 terminates a short distance above the upper end of the air post and is provided with an elbow i8 and nozzle 80. The nozzle 88 may be of any type desired and in the present instance is directed downwardly for convenience in use thereof. The bore 4l, nipple 52, valve 54 and pipe 62 together may be referred to as a branch air line.

It Will be evident from the above that the pipe or branch air line which includes the pipe 62 is normally closed so that compressed air does not escape therethrough. The line 42 is normally open, i. e., it is in constant communication with the main air line 39 and compressed Aair stands in the line 42 and hose 46 and flows therethrough upon opening of the air` valve 48. The user of the device is enabled to extend the hose 89 to a point of use remote from the air post and utilize the hose for blowing compressed air onto articles for blowing foreign matter therefrom. The hose 46 may be extended and rotated in any direcn tion and the swivel connection 44 prevents kinling of the hose.

The user is also enabled to carry or handle articles which he wishes to blow the foreign matter therefrom such as mold pieces, etc. The user can then handle the mold piece with both hands and step on the treadle element 'i4 to open the valve 54 permitting the 'air to flow through the line 62 and nozzle 80, and upon release of the treadle member 74 the valve closes and stops the flow of air through the line.

From the above it will be apparent that a new article has been produced having the advantage that the user can employ the hose for blowing compressed air on objects at points remote from the air post and also can employ the line 82 for blowing air on objects which are carried or handled and in the use of which the users hands are otherwise occupied.

The device of the presentl invention is a compact unitary device having the advantage of enabling the user to carry the hose to a remote point and includes a foot operated Iair line in the air post, thus eliminating the necessity of separate devices and separate connections to a source of compressed air. The air post of the present invention needs only a single connection to the source of compressed Iair and can be set up anywhere in the shop or garage Where used.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention, manifestly it is susceptible of modification and rearrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the precise forms herein disclosed, except Ias I may be so limited by the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A foot actuated control for use with a valve interposed in a iiuid conduit, said fluid conduit being disposed in a vertical position, which valve includes a housing interposed between the ends of a pair of segments of said conduit, a closure element normally biased to a closed position and a stem secured to said element and extending outside the valve housing; said foot actuated control comprising a mounting element secured to one segment of said conduit, a lever yarm pivoted at one end on said mounting element, said lever arm engaging the extended end of said valve stem at a point intermediate the ends of said lever arm, a treadle extending from the other end of said lever arm in a direction transverse Y to the lever arm,A and means for varying the point of securement of said mounting element along the length of said segment, whereby the height of the treadle is varied 'and whereby the mechanical advantage of the lever operated foot `control may be varied.

HENRY ANDERSON.

References oneri in me me of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 

